Crime Down 9% in Santa Monica

Santa Monica is significantly safer than it was a year ago, according to new statistics obtained by Santa Monica Patch.

As of Aug. 14, crime is down by 9 percent overall, compared with the same time frame last year.

Here are the specifics:

• Homicides are down 100 percent, as there have been none in Santa Monica in 2011.

• Robberies are down 32 percent.

• Vehicle burglaries are down 23 percent.

• Grand theft autos are down 2 percent.

• Residential burglaries are down 3 percent.

• Miscellaneous thefts are down 2 percent.

"Santa Monica has continually been dropping our crime rates," SMPD Chief Tim Jackman told Santa Monica Patch earlier this year. "We have not seen these low of numbers since the 1950s. ... Our city is a safe place to work, live and play."

Crime has declined across Los Angeles County as well, according to the LA County Sheriff's Department. As of the end of July, violent crimes were down 11.74 percent and serious property crimes by 4.45 percent.

In January, violent crimes were down 8.22 percent and serious property crimes declined 3.92 percent in the county, compared to the same time frame in 2010.

In other SMPD news, police are planning to set up a DUI checkpoint on Friday, Aug. 26. It will be the fourth in a series of checkpoints police are conducting as part of a yearlong campaign.